ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an alternative model of Programme Leadership via the role of the Academic Manager. Instead of taking on teaching- and/or research-focused roles, these managers take responsibility for the quality assurance and continuous improvement of the programmes in their portfolio. This chapter explores how this reconceptualisation provides fertile ground for connections across the institutions, collaboration within and across teams and its value in conflict resolution. This chapter closes with an exploration of the academic manager's role in practice via the examples of supporting curriculum development across different teams and through effective referral processes. Academic managers are, through their position within the university, able to work with various stakeholders to create teams across institutional boundaries for the benefit of the management of programmes. From the US, Millet's practitioner response highlights the value in the continuous attention to the curriculum that this reconceptualization of the programme leader role affords.
